Tony Romo has been the face of the Dallas Cowboys since 2005.
Having joined the team in 2003, Romo became the starting quarterback two years later. One of the most famous players in the NFL, with the NFL's most famous team, Romo has led the team from quarterback, through a rebuilding phase.
Having had three successive 8-8 seasons between 2011-13, Romo led the team to the playoffs in 2014 as the Cowboys form looked to be finally changing. Last season, they went backwards again as Romo missed the majority of the season through injury.
Having returned in pre-season, ahead of the 2016 season, the 36-year-old broke a vertebrae in a pre-season game, that would force him to miss between 6-8 weeks. In his place, Dallas started rookie quarterback Dak Prescott.
Despite losing their first game, Prescott has led the team to an 8-1 record after nine games. That's currently the best in the NFL, and with Romo about to return to full fitness, the four-time Pro Bowl star, took the pressure off Prescott by confirming he was now acting as a back-up to a player, 13-years his junior.
It's all @dak going forward. pic.twitter.com/bumAis1Bsl
— NFL (@NFL) November 15, 2016
Speaking in Dallas at a press conference, Romo confirmed that he is desperate to play again, but does not expect to feature this season, if Prescott's form continues.
"He's earned the right to be our quarterback. As hard as that is for me to say, he's earned that right. He's guided our team to an 8-1 record and that's hard to do."
"If you think for a second that I don't want to be out there, than you've probably never felt the ecstasy of competing and winning," he continued. "That hasn't left me. In fact, it may burn more now than ever. It's not always easy to watch and I think anyone who has been in this position understands that."
In an era, where ego regularly outweighs the good of the team, Romo's reaction to a difficult situation needs to be applauded. He had no idea (nobody had) of how good Prescott would be.
The California native as a Cowboys man, through and through. Like all players should, but regularly dont, he is putting the team first.
Ultimate respect, @tonyromo. 👠pic.twitter.com/E0O3y96aq8
— NFL (@NFL) November 15, 2016
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